TB75: Baker Street Blend

This is the last of the breakfast blend type teas from Upton that needed testing (of 5). I started with the simplest of blends, and ending with this one. To be honest, it’s the smoky part that worries me.

I’m not sure how much the added tbsp. of honey is altering my impressions, but first taste does not make me think “smoky” (phew). This tastes very similar to the Scottish blend, except there’s a little sharpness to it… a scratchy feeling (is that the smoke?). I’m liking the overall taste of this… probably 2nd fave out of 5… but, but, not the aftertaste at all (harsh). It’s making my throat a little scratchy too (ok, it’s raining out there and it could be a coincidence, as my major allergy is mold/mildew and it flares with rain… doesn’t help living across street from lake either).

Will retest on a clear day.

ETA: Yikes, can’t finish because allergies really flaring (doubt it’s the rain).

This is growing on me. The more of it I drink, the less overwhelming the smoke. I chose it this evening because I was watching Elementary.

I seem to have bought a lot of smokey teas lately. I find that I’m developing a taste for them ! This tea, however, was just ok. It’s neither smokey nor bold, but rather a polite afternoon tea that gives the impression that someone is smoking a pipe… it another building. That’s ok – in fact, it’s a perfectly nice tea, it just doesn’t excite me the way I was hoping. I have more smokey teas to try – maybe it’s time to break out the lapsang?

Wow, I had to go into my previous orders from Upton, and was surprised to see that the sample I ordered was placed ten years, one month ago!!! I remember being hesitant placing the order for this sample. Why? Well, because I don’t like Lapsang teas. Straight Lapsang teas are very smokey, and to me, overwheming. Maybe, ten years later my appreciation for Lapsang Souchongs would be improved.

Luckily, this blend was mainly a balance between Keemun and Darjeeling teas, with a touch of Lapsang. A really good blend with no tea overpowering the other, but nicely complimenting each other. The touch of Lapsang was noticeable, leaving the tea mildly smokey. I learned a couple things a decade ago. First of all, I like mildly smokey teas, and Lapsang can be enjoyable. Lastly, a well balaced tea such as Baker Street, can be very enjoyable. Much like a well balanced life can make living more enjoyable!

Such a nice blend for an afternoon cup of tea. I was watching a mini marathon of 1954-55 Sherlock Holmes TV programs yesterday, so of course had to have a pot of this. The blenders created something really special here with just a touch of smokiness that does not cover the base of keemun and darjeeling. Whole leaf blend actually holds up well to a second steeping and tastes good iced as well.

I logged this one pretty early on and have learned more about teas since then so I thought I’d log it again. I have gone from loving this tea, to being disappointed after discovering pure Lapsang and craving that, to appreciating this tea again. I’ve begun tasting the different dimensions of this tea. The Lapsang is pretty easy to pull out but the Darjeeling and Keemun are there too. For the last two, I can detect 2 other teas presence but right now I’m still unable to definitely say “yes, that it the Darjeeling or Yes, that is the Keemun”. I did want to note a discovery I had with this tea. It seems to be possible, depending on the steeping process, to make one of the teas come out more strongly. A couple days ago I brewed this and was impatient so used water a touch under boiling and brewed for 2 minutes. The Lapsang was stronger. Today I used boiling water and brewed about 3 minutes (I was busy when the timer went off) and one of the others is stronger (still can’t separate them very well yet). I remember always liking this tea better with shorter steeps. I think because the Lapsang came out more. Interesting… I’d really like to learn to differentiate Keemun and Darjeeling better though.

Been doing Upton Imports sampler thunderdomes, two teas at a time, sometimes with comparison qualities obvious (same flush or estate darjeelings, say), sometimes less so, like here where I compared Upton TB75, Baker Street Blend (keemun, darjeeling, and lapsang), with Upton TB54, Sunday Tea with Vanilla East Frisian Blend.

Love the way this smells dry, that wonderful smoke. Bacon-y brewing. Sort of like “lapsang lite”—it really does taste like a cross of smoke tea with darjeeling, which is unusual but pretty cool. It’s like masculine meets feminine sort of; there’s the smoke in the fore but also the floral, perfume-y thing in the background.

Doesn’t need sugar or milk. There’s some bitterness at the end of the swallow but it’s not unpleasant; it fits the whole profile.

I could definitely see making this an afternoon tea break choice in the future. Wouldn’t call this an essential restock, but high up there as an option among a few any given afternoon.

The Lapsang blends in nicely with the other teas in the mix, giving a nice earthy, smoked taste that compliments rather than dominates (I usually don’t like anything with Lapsang in it). Rich and robust, I accidentally put too much sugar in the first cup, but the tea wasn’t even phased. I let it steep for a long time, and it wasn’t bitter, which is always a plus. This is perfect tea for a cold rainy day…which just happens to be today. My uncle said it tastes kind of like scotch to him. I just tried it iced on a hot day and I’m on the fence whether it is better hot or cold.
If I’m going to drink Lapsang (or something blended with it), this is the one I prefer thus far.

Pretty darn good. This is my 2nd Lapsang tea and 1st ever taste of a Lapsang blend. The other Lapsang I’ve had is the Twinings Lapsang Souchong, straight up. It’s waaaaay more intense than this and way overpowering. Fun sometimes but a bit over-the-top. This one is a lot more chill and British-y. It’s tasty, and it as a bit of that funky flavour but it’s not in-your-face and it’s not too much to handle. Really nice. I’m not a huge Darjeeling fan (at least not yet) but the blend here is really nice. Would definitely buy this again.

This is a really excellent tea. The Upton description is right that it’s mildly smoky—oddly, I am usually not too wild about Darjeeling or Lapsang Souchong teas, but somehow this mix balances the smokiness of Lapsang Souchong perfectly to my taste. Darjeelings often taste very floral to me, but I don’t get that with this blend — not sure if it’s because of a low amount of Darjeeling, or it’s a nuttier one. A hint of smoke, a hint of nuttiness, and a nice full Keemun background tying it all together. I definitely recommend it.